John Lucas – SLAMonlinehttp://www.slamonline.com
Your Source For The Best In BasketballTue, 20 Mar 2018 02:05:19 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.4LeBron James Says 12-Year-Old Son is a Better Ball Handler & Shooter Than He Was at Same Agehttp://www.slamonline.com/media/slam-tv/lebron-james-says-12-year-old-son-better-ball-handler-shooter-age/
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A video of 12-year-old LeBron James Jr hooping at the 2017 John Lucas All-Star Weekend showcase in Houston this past weekend hit YouTube on Monday and it displays the oldest son of King James putting on a impressive performance, splitting the defense with his crafty handles, finding the open man with his superb court vision and hitting deep jumpers from behind the arc.

On Monday The Cleveland Plain Dealer also posted an interview session with LeBron in which the proud dad said he didn’t handle the ball or shot as well as his son does at the same age.

“I didn’t handle the ball as well as he does,” James said about his son. “He handles the ball exceptionally and he shoots it a lot better than I did at that age, but I’ve always had the ability to pass the ball. It’s good to see him doing it as well.”

According to the same report, LeBron Jr wears No. 0 in honor Russell Wetbrook, his favorite player.

While the NBA held its annual All-Star Weekend in February in Toronto, former #1 pick and head coach John Lucas made his own twist on the event after the fact in Houston. Waiting for the Texas high school season to conclude, Lucas held his annual All-Star Weekend AAU Tournament to give scouts and media a better look at the incoming freshman class. However, as any coach would, there was plenty of schooling involved.

“Too many kids have NAIA talent and are waiting on UK and Duke letters. Well, it’s not happening. Embrace your talent level and keep working,” the 62-year old Lucas told the participating players. “I wish kids would try to just be good players first. Too many players think they can just go from good to great overnight.”

With players from over 20 different states, the talent in Houston was legit. Games spanned from 8AM until close to midnight, giving everyone a preview of what the AAU grind was going to have in store. Many players were already hearing from schools participating in the Sweet 16 before entering high school, so it was evident that everyone in attendance was getting a sneak peak of the next wave of elite high school recruits.

Here were a few of the standouts from the 2016 John Lucas Enterprises All Star Weekend Tournament:

Kyree Walker, 6-4, SG/SF, God First AAU, 2020

Making a switch from his running with the Oakland Soldiers, the buzz surrounding the event was going to be Walker’s debut with God First. The big wing did not disappoint with his ridiculous court vision, ability to finish through contact, and versatility on the defensive end. Already receiving interest from a number of high major programs, Kyree has firmly supplanted himself amongst the top 5 players in the class.

Jabri Abdur-Rahim, 6-6, SF, Play Hard Play Smart, 2020

Shareef’s son may not be as tall as his Pops right now, but definitely carries the Abdur-Rahim smoothness on the hardwood. Jabri shot the ball well from beyond the arc, took slower defenders off of the bounce, and used his size to make an impact on both ends of the floor. Much like his Pops, he wasn’t necessarily killing people with his physical style of play, but more so with the extremely advanced skill level that he already owns.

Greg Brown, 6-7, SF/PF, D1 Premier, 2020

Considered by some to be the best player in the event, it was easy to see why so many scouts were in love with Greg Brown. Approaching 6-foot-8, the Texas product has the physical profile of a power forward with the game of an emerging wing. He showed off nice vision, range out to the three point line, and the ability to control the paint with his athleticism. There is still a lot of work to do with Brown, but all of the tools are there for him to be one of the best in the class.

Stayve Thomas, 6-7, PF, God First AAU, 2020

While Slim Thug was rumored to have some game of his own, it’s been verified that his son can definitely go on the hardwood. Running with the most loaded team of the event, Stayve Thomas proved that the talent pool didn’t end with his father. He was active on both ends of the court, made surprisingly nice passes, and had no problem getting buckets once he got to the rack. Like many young big guys, he is still rough around the edges, but has the makings to be a legit prospect.

Isaiah LeBlanc, 6-2, PG, God First AAU, 2020

After dropping 51 points in a middle school game this year, Isaiah LeBlanc has made himself one of the more sought after incoming freshmen in the country. He already owns great size for the position, shoots the lights out, and can finish at the rack amongst taller guys. The son of former UCONN player Michael LeBlanc has basketball in his blood and should only continue to get better.

Eric Butler, 6-1, PG, Team Blackout, 2020

One of the guys that many were not hip to prior to the event, Eric Butler immediately showed that he belonged. Blessed with legit size and nice athleticism, the Washington native was able to get to rack at will and locked down on multiple positions on the defensive end. Butler had the drive to compete against just about anyone and proved that he is in the upper echelon of lead guards for the class.

Ace Baldwin, 5-10, PG, Select One, 2020

Playing on a team loaded with future D-1 prospects, Ace Baldwin didn’t necessarily stand out with his numbers, but it was the things that didn’t show up in the box score that made him so valuable. The smooth lefty consistently made the right pass, didn’t turn the rock over, and made his teammates better throughout the weekend. Once you add in the fact that he was tough to stop going to the rack when he opted to score, it’s clear why he was one of the biggest sleepers that the event had to offer.

Zion Harmon, 5-8, PG, Select One, 2021

With a year of varsity ball under his belt as a seventh grader, Zion Harmon played up a year and helped lead a stacked Select One squad to the 14U ‘chip. His array of deep three pointers, pinpoint passes, and exciting takes to the rim made him the catalyst for the DMV based unit. Already owning an offer from New Mexico State, expect to hear a lot about Zion Harmon in the future as he continues to grow.

Chris Moore, 6-5, SF/PF, Team Thad, 2020

A physical beast, Chris Moore showed some big time improvement in his skill level since we last saw him. Showing off an explosive first step, great motor around the boards, and bounce around the rim, he straight up changed the game with his athleticism. Considered a top 25 player in the class, Moore definitely has the size and athleticism to become a big time college player.

Chris Edgehill, 5-10, PG, New England Playaz, 2020

Despite not having the pure talent or sheer size of God First, it was the New England Playaz who came through with the upset of the tournament. Edgehill showed crazy guts down the stretch, drilling countless deep three pointers and seemingly always making the right play when he had the rock in his hands. Edgehill should easily be one of the better freshmen point guards amongst the loaded prep schools that the Northeast has to offer.

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/college-hs/high-school/john-lucas-all-star-weekend-recap/feed/0SLAMonlineDeAndre Jordan Already Working on His Free-Throws for the Mavshttp://www.slamonline.com/nba/deandre-jordan-already-working-on-his-free-throws-for-the-mavs/
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Dallas Mavericks free agent acquisition DeAndre Jordan is hard at work this summer on his troublesome free-throw shooting, taking instruction from former NBA head coach and LA Clippers assistant John Lucas. The big fella apparently drained 1,000 attempts Tuesday. DJ back in the Lab Working pic.twitter.com/5xtn98f9ek — Coach John Lucas (@CoachJohnLucas1) July 7, 2015 Just […]

Dallas Mavericks free agent acquisition DeAndre Jordan is hard at work this summer on his troublesome free-throw shooting, taking instruction from former NBA head coach and LA Clippers assistant John Lucas.

John Lucas has done it all. He’s had successes and failures. He’s been a player and a coach. He’s been helped and now he is helping others. The former #1 pick in the NBA Draft does everything from training guys still playing in the playoffs to teaching the game to those who haven’t even entered […]

John Lucas has done it all. He’s had successes and failures. He’s been a player and a coach. He’s been helped and now he is helping others. The former #1 pick in the NBA Draft does everything from training guys still playing in the playoffs to teaching the game to those who haven’t even entered the middle school ranks because for him, it’s all about giving back the knowledge of the game that he has received throughout his basketball career. One of these instances is at his International Middle School Combine.

Proving as the springboard for Thon Maker, the ISMC is considered by some to be the premier middle school basketball camp. Held annually in Houston, the event blends some serious instruction with the opportunity to then use what you learned in the games. This isn’t just one of those camps in which coaches roll the balls out and say ‘go to work’. In fact, the players spent just as much time going through the drills as they did in live action, picking up invaluable things to take with them in the process. However, once the games got going, plenty of scouts were watching.

USA Basketball’s Don Showalter and BJ Johnson were in the building evaluating ballers for future USA developmental teams. Vince Baldwin, Chad Babel, and John Stovall of Nike all made appearances to see the next guys who will be coming up in the EYBL. Reggie Rankin of ESPN and Nike grassroots head Carlton Dubose spoke to the campers about what they look for. Guys like Clark Francis, Van Coleman, Spencer Pulliam, and Tate Johnson were pacing from court to court to make sure that they got a glimpse of everyone for their evaluations. To top it off, there were more than a half dozen McDonald’s All-American Game voters in the building looking to get a glimpse of the future.

Here are a few of the top guys who caught our eye at the 2015 John Lucas International Middle School Combine:

Scottie Lewis, 6-5, SF, Colts Neck (NJ) 2019

A straight up video game type athlete, Scottie Lewis received a lot of buzz when he threw down a 360 during a middle school game and lived up to his rep in Houston. He was a monster in transition, killed a number of dunks on the break, and had a number of creative finishes that you don’t see out of most wings at any level. Lewis’ performance at the ISMC only further cemented his case for top dog amongst the rising freshman class.

Chandler Lawson, 6-6, SF, Memphis (TN), 2019

Donned by some as the top player in the class, Chandler Lawson has all of the tools to reach the success of his older brothers, if not surpass them. With KJ and Dedric set to play for their pops (Keelon, an assistant coach) at Memphis next season, Chandler has already developed a rep of his own and lived up to it at the ISMC. Standing 6’6 with a ridiculous 7’4 wingspan, the ‘baby KD’ comparisons were thrown out quite a bit throughout the camp. There were many times in which Chandler got the rebound, started the break, and then finished things off with a dime or two points for himself. It is considered to only be a matter of time before Chandler is the next Lawson set to play for the Tigers.

Trendon Watford, 6-7, PF, 2019

‎The little bro of former IU and current overseas pro Christian Watford has the chance to follow his bro’s footsteps to the next level. Already skilled facing up at 6’7, he took slower posts off of the bounce, yet also had the moves on the block to post smaller ones. Trendon’s inside/out game for a young big is why he is considered a consensus top-25 player in the class.

Shemar Morrow, 6-4, SG/SF, Sacramento (CA), 2020

A product of Cleveland, Shemar Morrow made national headlines when he was dunking in games as a sixth grader. Having relocated to Sacramento, he is running with the Oakland Soldiers and lived up to the hype surrounding him. The lefty is a simply special athlete, can bomb NBA threes, and is an elite finisher in transition. Expectations are incredibly high for Morrow, who will now have a target on his back whenever he steps foot on the court.

Zach Harvey, 6-3, SG, Topeka (KS), 2019

Topeka isn’t exactly known as a high school hoops hotbed, but Zach Harvey is doing his best to help put the city on the map. The super smooth swingman made the game look effortless with his slick handle, pinpoint vision, and deadly J off of the bounce. Looking like he’s still got a few inches of growth left in him based on his length, expect it to only be a matter of time before Big 12 schools come calling.

Isaiah Eric Mobley, 6-7, PF, Murietta (CA), 2019

One of the higher upside players in the camp, the guy with two first names repped Cali hard throughout the ISMC. Mobley moved with the fluidity of a guard, had some slick moves in the post, and changed the game on both ends of the hardwood. Isaiah looks like a cat who is nowhere done growing and with the upside he has, is definitely a name to remember.

Thomas Bruner, 6-0, PG, Hammond School (SC), 2019

Given the fact that his older bro Jordan is 6’9 and one of the best seniors in the state, it’s looking like Jordan will be the next to live up to the family rep. He locked down on D, showed off super quick hands, and used his strong frame to finish through contact at the rack. With a year of varsity ball under his belt already, Bruner is ready to to show why he is one of South Carolina’s next in line.

Montavious Murphy, 6-4, SG/SF, Spring (TX)

A local kid from the Houston suburb that held the camp, Montavious showed that he could hold his own with the nation’s finest. Murphy has great size, could shoot the lights out of the pill from deep, and has the length to lock down multiple positions on D. Murphy isn’t a name that is well known on the national level quite yet, but that will change quickly.

Spending the better part of three weeks in Houston, I took in no shortage of basketball. Ranging from high school to college to NBA, I was able to see the immense talent that H-Town had to offer. There weren’t a ton of events like the John Lucas HOF Classic that offered all day games, so […]

Spending the better part of three weeks in Houston, I took in no shortage of basketball. Ranging from high school to college to NBA, I was able to see the immense talent that H-Town had to offer. There weren’t a ton of events like the John Lucas HOF Classic that offered all day games, so that meant a lot of running around the city for single games and workouts. Fortunately for me, there was some sort of hoops being played every single day, including Sunday.

High school games aside, two AAU programs had some outstanding Sunday workouts that kept their kids in the lab. Texas Boys Athletic Club, God First AAU, and Basketball University all had Sunday workouts for their guys. Texas Boys Athletic Club (ran by former Texas Tech head coach Chris Walker) and God First (ran by former UCONN forward Michael LeBlanc) hit the gym late on Sundays at Lutheran North, utilizing a lot of footwork for perimeter players while also allowing the guys to get a ton of shots up on the gun. Basketball University had their workouts led by Teddy Wheeler, who had a myriad of stations set up for his guys. The adidas sponsored program went through a detail oriented workout with great intensity. It’s just not the type of stuff that you see on most Sundays during the high school season.

“I think that the kids make the most improvement during the fall and winter. Especially the early winter,” Basketball University director Rhossi Carron explained. “Once they start playing the high school games, it’s really about the team concept and not necessarily individual development.”

Throughout the games and workouts, there were too many potential D-1 prospects to write about, but here are a select few who caught our eye:

Carsen Edwards, 5’10, PG/SG, Atascocita HS, 2016

Running the show for the #1 team in the city, Edwards lived up to the hype from the second we laid eyes on him. While he’s not going to blow you away with his physical attributes, the junior made his impact felt from the second the ball tipped. The aggressive scorer hit countless deep three pointers, pulled up at the drop of a dime, and made pinpoint passes in transition. Primarily a guy who just gets buckets at this point, Carsen is giong to have to continue developing as a lead guard, but brought enough to the table as a shot-maker to get Texas Tech out to see him for the second time in as many weeks.

Kerwin Roach, 6’4, PG/SG, North Shore HS, 2015

H-Town’s top senior is spending more time running the show for the defending state champs and is looking awfuly nice in the process. He used his blazing speed to attack the rim, used his sick hops to finish over the top of the D, and made some solid passes to find the open man. The state champion high jumper is still learning how to run the show as a lead guard and is improving as a shooter, but certainly has the potential to make an impact from the second that he steps foot on campus in Austin.

DeShang “DJ” Weaver, 6’7, PF, Cypress Falls HS, 2018

Perhaps the top freshman in the state, Weaver was the undoubted MVP in his team’s W over Langham Creek. Blessed with the physical attributes of many college players, he’s not your average freshman. DJ is the prototypical modern day power forward, blending a serious motor on the glass with emerging perimeter skill. He has a smooth looking jumper from the outside, beats most opposing bigs down the floor, and could potentially even develop into a swingman by the time it’s all said and done. Additionally, Weaver looks nowhere near developed physically, leading one to believe that he still may have another growth spurt left in him.

Gilbert Thomas, 6’7, SF/PF, C.E. King HS , 2016

A straight freak athlete, Gilbert is forced to man the middle for his high school squad, but we were able to see the potential that he has on the perimeter. He’s got an explosive first step, can lock down on the wing, and will finish everything at the rack with a dunk. ‎Though he’s got a ways to go in the skill level department, he’s the type of athlete and defender that high major schools dream of working with.

Ty’Darius Harris, 6’6, SF, Pro Vison, 2016

Along the lines of Gilbert Thomas, Ty’Darius Harris is a monster athlete who looks to rip the rim off every time that he’s within five feet of the cup. He’s another one of those elite level athletes who can defend multiple positions and is still developing a consistent skill set from the outside. Ty’Darius just made the move over to Pro Vision and will receive considerably more exposure than he did at Waller High School.

Jacobi Gordon, 6’6, SF, Pro Vision, 2018

One of the freshman in the Lone Star State that has everyone talking, it was easy to see what there was to like about Gordon during the workout that we saw. He already has great size for a wing, is a sturdy ball-handler, and has the ability to physically overpower most wings his age. Considered the 2nd best freshman in the city by respected scout Jim Hicks, Jacobi has the potential to develop into a deadly wing prospect.

Miller Kopp, 6’4, SG, Stratford HS, 2018

A lights out shooter with deceptive bounce, Miller Kopp was one of the pleasant surprises that we saw at the Basketball University workout. He plays a real efficient game, knows his limitations, and has a deadly two dribble pull-up. While it was a small sample of Kopp that we were served, it’s certainly enough for us to want to give him another look or two due to his size and stroke.

Two days before the start of training camp, the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers swung a minor trade that lands veteran guard Keith Bogans in Ohio. The Cavs will reportedly surrender the non-guaranteed contracts of John Lucas, Erik Murphy and Malcolm Thomas, in addition to Dwight Powell (whom Boston intends to retain.) Per ESPN: The […]

Two days before the start of training camp, the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers swung a minor trade that lands veteran guard Keith Bogans in Ohio.

The Cavs will reportedly surrender the non-guaranteed contracts of John Lucas, Erik Murphy and Malcolm Thomas, in addition to Dwight Powell (whom Boston intends to retain.)

Per ESPN:

The combination of ‎Bogans’ contract being non-guaranteed both this season at $5.3 million and next season at $5.5 million — along with Brendan Haywood’s fully unguaranteed $10.5 million salary in 2015-16 — potentially gives the Cavs a combined $16-plus million in unguaranteed salary to dangle in trades for the 2015-16 campaign.

That’s a significant amount of cap relief to offer trade partners for Cleveland, which also acquired second-round picks from Boston via Sacramento in 2015 and ’17 that are top-55 protected.

Boston, meanwhile, gets a player it likes in Powell as well as second-round picks from Cleveland in 2016 and ’17. Sources said the Celtics also will create a trade exception worth $5.3 million as part of the transaction, which can be achieved by absorbing the various Cleveland players into existing trade exceptions.

Cleveland continues to position itself for a potential Kevin Love blockbuster deal. The Cavaliers reportedly acquired three non-guaranteed contracts in a trade with the Utah Jazz. Per Yahoo!: The Cavaliers unloaded the guaranteed deal of Carrick Felix – along with a future second-round pick and $1 million – for John Lucas, Malcolm Thomas and Erik […]

The Cavaliers unloaded the guaranteed deal of Carrick Felix – along with a future second-round pick and $1 million – for John Lucas, Malcolm Thomas and Erik Murphy, sources said.

Those three players can be included in packages as preludes to a Love deal, or in a Love deal itself to give Minnesota salary-cap relief. The Cavaliers hold an interest in keeping Thomas, who could be an inexpensive role player to strengthen their frontcourt depth, sources said.

Cleveland has to be creative in solidifying a deal for Love, who the Timberwolves want to package with Kevin Martin and J.J. Barea, several front-office officials said.

Andray Blatche had lost his way, so he enlisted John Lucas to help him find it again. And results so far have been positive for the Brooklyn Nets’ forward. Per the NY Times: “In his first act as Andray Blatche’s mentor, John Lucas took away his car keys. It was a deposit of sorts, a down payment on rebirth. Before Lucas could help Blatche salvage his N.B.A. career, he needed to see a commitment. For seven years in Washington, Blatche had tantalized coaches with his unique blend of size (6 feet 11 inches) and skills and athleticism, only to repeatedly disappoint with his poor work ethic and off-court antics. When Blatche at last sought out Lucas — a former N.B.A. star and a renowned guide to wayward souls — the only question was whether Blatche had the will to follow through. So Lucas asked for his keys, which would not be returned until Blatche had shown his dedication. ‘I didn’t know Andray before,’ Lucas said, ‘but I did know the skill level. I told him that nobody questioned his basketball. Everybody questioned his commitment.’ […] Blatche, 26, spent three months this summer at Lucas’s gymnasium in Houston, receiving a daily regimen of tough love, counseling and remedial nutrition training. He weighs 265 pounds now, down from 285, and is working to drop another 5. His new teammates raved about his play in September scrimmages. Coach Avery Johnson has already named Blatche his backup center. ‘He doesn’t back down from anybody,’ Johnson said after the Nets’ first practice Tuesday. ‘He’s a skilled player.’ But the best sign might be Blatche’s willingness to own his past. ‘A lot of mistakes,’ he said of his Washington tenure. ‘But I was a young guy. And not to make no excuses for myself, I did a lot of things. And I also didn’t do a lot of things. But I was punished for the things I did and I learned from it, and I’m moving on.'”

]]>http://www.slamonline.com/nba/andray-blatche-was-mentored-by-john-lucas/feed/3John Lucas Future of the Game West to Hit Vegashttp://www.slamonline.com/college-hs/high-school/john-lucas-future-of-the-game-west-to-hit-vegas/
http://www.slamonline.com/college-hs/high-school/john-lucas-future-of-the-game-west-to-hit-vegas/#commentsWed, 02 May 2012 19:44:17 +0000http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=203995

The 2nd annual John Lucas Future of the Game West camp kicks off May 5th at the Tarkanian Basketball Academy in Las Vegas. Players will be drilled by top coaches from around the country for a grueling three hours each day over a variety of skills. Focal points will include passing, ball handling, proper spacing, defensive positioning, shooting and scoring one on one. Last year was a huge success having attracted top players such as Jaylin Fleming, Chris Giles, Jared Vanderbuilt, Doc Nelson, Deshawn Wilson, Jaylen Nowell, Matt McCabe, Caleb Nero, Justin Roberts and P.J. Washington. That group of select players have gone on to be invited to the International Middle School Combine in Houston in May 2012 for the top 8th graders and select 7th graders in the country.

Clark Francis of the Hoopscoop will again be in town to check out the talent and speak to the kids about what it takes to reach your potential as a player and recruitable athlete in the recruiting process down the road. MiddleSchoolHoops.com and Rodger Bohn of SLAM Magazine will also be in town to evaluate Coach Lucas is extremely excited about the growth of the camp as well

“Last years camp was as good as a first year camp we have ever had from high school camps to the pro camps we have run. The intensity and dedication of the players and parents was off the charts and I am just very please with where the camp is going,” the former #1 pick in the NBA Draft and NBA head coach said. “All these kids say they dream of playing in the NBA one day, well we are just trying to give them a taste of what it is like and the intensity level they have to compete with to make it.”

Some of the top players who will attend Future of The Game West include Pierre Crockrell from Seattle WA, Courtney Ramey from St. Louis MO, Terrell and Ti Strickland from Lexington, KY, Gavin Schoenwald from Nashville, TN, Evan and Isaiah Mobley from CA.

The John Lucas Future of The Game West camp will take place this Saturday and Sunday at Tarkanian Basketball Academy, located at 2730 Rancho Drive, Las Vegas, NV, 89102. Games begin at noon on Saturday.

John Lucas Basketball Resources will be holding its second annual coaches clinic this Sunday in New Orleans with a star-studded lineup. The former No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft and coach of the Cavs/Spurs/76ers leads a cast of coaches who will speak to those aspiring to get to their level.

The man who led LSU for 25 years and coached Shaq during his collegiate years, Dale Brown, will start things off. Nolan Richardson, who coached Arkansas to a National Championship and created the revered 40 Minutes style of play will also be speaking. He’ll be joined by former UNC assistant Phil Ford and ex-Tulane head coach Perry Clark to round out what should be an outstanding learning experience for basketball enthusiasts of all shapes and sizes.

The clinic will take place at Fogleman Gym on Tulane’s campus, located at 106 Freret Street in New Orleans, LA, 70118 from 10 a.m. ’til 2 p.m. this Sunday. Registration for this event is $50, and Dorita Hatchett can be contacted at dorita@johnlucasresources.com with any questions.

Coach John Lucas’ charity game in Houston last night was like every other charity hoops game that has ever been played: a relentless dunkfest with little regard for defense. But, still, a good time was had by all. Footage courtesy of BallisLife.

Coach John Lucas is hosting a charity game on November 20th in Houston, and wouldn’t you know it, but Kevin Durant will be there along with a few other NBA players. From MyFox Houston: “According to Lucas the players he has confirmed who will take part in the event include L.A. Clippers forward Blake Griffin, Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant, Washington Wizards forward Rashard Lewis, the former star from Alief Elsik and free agent guard T.J. Ford, former star at Willowridge High School and the University of Texas. ‘Blake and Rashard will happen for sure,’ Lucas said. (Chicago Bulls guard) Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant is supposed to be coming, (Thunder center) Kendrick Perkins, T.J. Ford, (forward) Chandler Parsons with the Rockets, (guard) Jonny Flynn with the Rockets.’ Lucas said all of the players he mentioned are expected to play with the exception of Rose, who will be in attendance. ‘Derrick will not play,’ Lucas said. ‘Basketball is our family business and guys have been asking about a game. So a lot of the Rockets players are going to play. We will put a list out later on this week.’ Lucas said proceeds from the game will go to charitable causes. ‘One of the charities will be the John Lucas Foundation, which is for athletes who have wellness problems, for them to get help,’ Lucas said.”

A basketball pioneer, Moses Malone didn’t just make the jump from high school to professional basketball, but he made it look easy. At the time he called it a career, Malone was one of eight players to win multiple MVP awards. In his 21 seasons of professional basketball, Malone saw a lot, and in SLAM 72, he talked about that memorable career. –Ed.

by Alan Paul

As the first guy to go directly from high school to professional basketball, way back in ’74, Moses Malone would be a legendary, landmark figure even if he’d been a failure. Fact is, though, he was one of the greatest big men ever, and he remains the greatest straight-to-pros player ever, at least until Kobe or KG proves otherwise.

Malone was a three-time MVP, a 12-time All-Star and a member of the NBA’s 50 Greatest. In the heart of his career, he amassed an amazing 11 straight seasons averaging better than 20 and 10-including his 31 and 15 run with the Rockets in ’81-82. Counting his two years in the ABA, Moses scored 29,580 points in 21 seasons. He grabbed 17,834 boards, less than only Wilt and Bill Russell. He’s also top five in free throws made and attempted, and in minutes and games played. Still, he’s been somewhat overlooked, perhaps because he wasn’t a larger than life character like Wilt or Shaq, an iconic cultural figure like Kareem or the core of a dynasty like Russell. He also spent little time currying the favor of reporters, seemingly happy to let his game speak for itself, content in his blue-collar image.

“I came up in a small town ghetto and I never did think I’d be a celebrity or famous athlete,” says Malone, retired since ’95 and now living in Houston. “I was just loving to play the game of basketball. And I worked hard at everything I did.”

Malone’s Petersburg (VA) High won 50 straight games and two state titles. He was arguably the most highly recruited basketball player ever and eventually signed with Maryland, only to jump right to the ABA’s Utah Stars. At the time, the NBA prohibited high school students from entering, but the struggling ABA had no such issues. The 6-10, 210-pound manchild averaged 17.2 rpg and 13 rpg in two years in the league before passing through the Buffalo Braves and landing in Houston. He elevated from great to superstar in his fifth pro season, ’78-79, when he put up 24.8 ppg and 17.6 rpg and won his first MVP. By then, he had put on at least 20 pounds and would eventually top 250, though almost until the end of his career, he maintained the quickness and agility that allowed him to be such a dominant rebounder.

Big Mo secured his place in history in ’82-83, when he was traded to Philly and finally led Dr. J to the promised land of a title. That team demolished the League, going 65-17 and only losing one game in the playoffs, and Malone was the MVP of both the regular season and the Finals.

Malone’s final years as a journeyman center did nothing to diminish a great career, one that he says included inventing the alley-oop with John Lucas.

SLAM: You hold the record for offensive rebounds in a season. What was the key to your success there?

MM: To be a great offensive rebounder, you have to think like a defensive rebounder and battle for position while also being in the flow of your offense. And then it’s just being determined. You got to work hard whatever you’re doing and try to be number one and take pride in what you’re doing. You want to be the best at your spot, then you got to work hard, man. A lot of guys don’t work as hard as it gonna take.

SLAM: When did you first start realizing you had the potential to become a great basketball player?

MM: Pretty fast. I had God-given talent. No one taught me this game. I taught myself and I did it because I loved the game. I wasn’t playing for no big money. I was playing for orange juice. I started playing ball when I was 13. Before that, I just wanted to play football and baseball, but I kept growing so I figured it was time for basketball. Then I was on the playground all night. I ain’t never go to parties or nothing. I’d get out of school at three and be out there playing until one in the morning with one streetlight. For real.

SLAM: Is it true that kids on the playground wouldn’t let you play unless you agreed not to enter the lane?

MM: Oh yeah. When I was 15, they changed the playground rules because I was dominating everything and blocking everything that came my way. I had a lot of skills and I played strong, which goes to my friend Babyhead. He was about four years older and he was always picking me for his team and he was always on me to be hard at all times. Every time I went to the hole, he wanted me to dunk. He’d go, “Young fella, I picked you because you’re the best. I know you’re just 15, but you come to play. And you have to bring it every game.”

In high school, my coach had this philosophy, too. There were always two guys checking me at least-sometimes three out of five. I would get real frustrated but he always told me it would make me better in the long run and it really did. I had to get around two guys to score or get a rebound every game my last two years in high school. It made me stronger and tougher.

SLAM: You were the first to go directly from high school to pro ball. Did you ever think it would become so commonplace?

MM: No. They might as well just shut down college ball now [laughs]. Now guys become first-round picks and make all the millions without really proving themselves. Are they gonna go all the way down to elementary school looking for kids who can jump high? The real question is this: Do you have it in your head or heart to be great? To work hard enough to be what you can be? That’s hard to see, but I think the problem is that these so-called scouts don’t know what they’re looking at. When I came out of high school, I was getting 38 points, 16 rebounds and 10 or 12 blocks a game. If they put my numbers up there next to LeBron James, I was doing more damage. Maybe I could have gotten a billion-dollar shoe contract [laughs]. But I don’t fault none of these kids. They got to say yes. If you don’t take it, I’ll put these size-16 shoes in your butt my own self [laughs].

SLAM: What’s the hardest adjustment in going pro so young?

MM: I always was confident, but I had guys looking out for me and that’s real important. Got to have that, not just people looking for a gravy train. Then you’re in trouble, because you’re not man enough to understand what’s going on. I had my agent up in Washington DC, who’s still with me, and my teammates took me under their wings, especially Ron Boone, Gerald Govan, Wali Jones and Roger Brown. They brought me up just like I was their son and they really taught me how to grow to be a man in life and how to prepare yourself for every game. Ron Boone was like a father to me. He saw I needed guidance and he gave it to me, helped me mature as a person. He took me home and his wife cooked me many meals, made me feel comfortable. I’d talk to them about everything in life. One thing for anyone coming in, but especially the kids, you can’t be afraid. You’ve got to be determined that you want to be the best, but you don’t have to talk about it. You see someone talking about how great they are, they ain’t great. When I played, I never talked about what I was gonna do. I just did it.

SLAM: Maybe that’s why you’ve been underrated.

MM: Well, someone’s been misrepresenting me I guess. Because I’m the only high school player who ever got three MVPs, 21 years and the Hall of Fame. I’m everything they thought I shouldn’t have been and wouldn’t be.

SLAM: Who guarded you the toughest?

MM: Artis Gilmore. But then there was Kareem, Bill Walton, Robert Parish, Dave Cowens and even Swen Nater, who no one remembers. Every center in the League played me tough. There was never an easy night so you had to prepare every game, figure out their strong points and weak points and try to take advantage of whatever you could. And you knew they were doing the same thing for you.

SLAM: Almost every team had a good to great center. Where have they all gone?

MM: They all retired now [laughs]. They really only got two or three real centers in the League now: Shaq, Mourning, and now Yao Ming. You can’t be a real center unless you want to play around the basket and bang. Now you got 7-foot guys who want to finesse. Hmmph. They don’t want to put on no hardhats and go to work. I don’t care what people say-it takes a big man to know how to post up and it takes you a good guard to open it up for them. Look how the Spurs won. They had Duncan and Robinson and then one little guy every game: Kerr, Parker, someone. Without that little guy, everyone’s gonna collapse on the big man, but without the big man, that little guy ain’t getting clean looks. Only team I saw win with two small guys was the Bulls with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.

SLAM: You set a record by playing 1,212 games without fouling out, yet you were a physical player. How’d you do that?

MM: I was good to the referees [laughs]. I knew them all. They got to call the game and you have to respect them. They make some bad calls, but never embarrass the referee. They got to do the work so once they make a call, let it be.

SLAM: You came to Philly and Dr. J finally got his ring.

MM: That was Dr. J’s team. I was just another piece of the puzzle. It was a great team before I got there. They had Doc, Andrew Toney, one of the best shooters ever, Maurice Cheeks, a great point guard, Bobby Jones coming off the bench as one of the best defenders in the League. And lots of role players like Clint Richardson and Marc Iavaroni.

SLAM: Right-but they were a great team that hadn’t won a title before you got there.

MM: Yeah, yeah. They needed me, but I needed them, too. Doc was one of the greatest players ever, no doubt, and I always thank him for giving me the opportunity to win a championship.

SLAM: At the start of the playoffs, you said you’d win it in “Fo’, fo’, fo’.” Doc said you didn’t mean you’d sweep every series-you were just saying that’s how many wins you needed.

MM: No, no. I wanted a sweep. Three sweeps, actually, and we almost got them. We did fo’, five, fo’. I wanted to start summer early and fo’, fo’, fo’ sounded good to me. I knew with the players we had that we were going to win and I didn’t see no reason to play extra games.

SLAM: You also had some great teams in Houston, going to the Finals once and playing with some great, underrated players. Let’s talk about them, beginning with Calvin Murphy.

MM: Murphy was probably the best pro shooter I played with. Toney’s the only other one in his league. That gave me room to operate, and also Murphy was a tough little guy. Oh yeah!

SLAM: Rick Barry.

MM: Rick Barry could shoot the three and keep you open, too, and also make some great passes. He was determined to win, always came with the focus on victory.

SLAM: John Lucas.

MM: John was a good penetrating guard who’d always go where the action was going. He’ll make you play. Luke wanted to win and he was a very exciting guy. And I’ll tell you something, him and me were the first guys to come up with the alley-oop. We invented that. See, everyone played me real hard up top to keep me from getting the ball, so Luke started tossing it over them so I could leap up and grab it and just put it through. When we first did it, the other teams would scream that it was goaltending, because they thought Luke was shooting. Now it’s become a regular play, but no one knew what it was when we started.

SLAM: You were traded to Philly after winning your second MVP. How could anyone trade a guy who just averaged 31 and 15?

MM: Simple: I was a restricted free agent and they didn’t want to pay the money. Now they’re paying everybody, but it came down to dollars and cents. Hey, I got traded from the Sixers eventually, too. Everybody can get traded, man.

In today’s cynical age, it shouldn’t really come as a surprise to anyone that some people were quick to assume that B-Easy’s entry into a rehab facility was nothing more than a PR move by the Miami Heat following their young forward’s controversial weekend.

It’s being assumed in many circles that Beasley is actually battling depression, and he’s now in the hands and care of John Lucas. Still, the pointless race is on to figure out what went wrong, and if anything could’ve been done to prevent it. (The media, after all, loves to psychoanalyze “troubled” celebrities.)

It’s unlikely that we’ll ever know the whole truth in this situation, and that’s perfectly fine. Thought it’s obvious that Beasley has issues to work through — and will hopefully get to do that with the aid of Lucas — the problems are his, and ultimately none of our business.

The only certainty in all of this is that Michael’s trade value has taken a hit, something Pat Riley and company are surely all too aware of.